Xiuzhen Li - Honorary Senior Research Associate

Xiuzhen Li is a senior archaeologist at the Emperor Qin
Shihuang’s Mausoleum Site
Museum, China, and an Honorary Senior Research Associate at University
College
London, UK. She graduated from Peking University with an Archaeology
degree, and took a Masters in Field Archaeology and a PhD in
Archaeological Science at the UCL Institute of
Archaeology.

She has over 20 years experience at the
site of Qin Terracotta Army, leading the excavation of the site and also
being involved in many research projects carried out on the terracotta warriors and
the Qin First Shihuang’s Mausoleum complex.

In 2003, when she came to the UK to study for a Masters degree, she started to develop the
co-operation between the Museum in Xi’an, China and University College London.

Her PhD research, from 2007 to 2011, focused on the bronze weapons equipped for the Qin
Terracotta Army. Multi-disciplinary methods were used to interpret
standardisation and labour organisation of these large quantity of bronze
weapons during production processes in the workshop; and the further
transportation and arrangement of these weapons within the pits of the
Terracotta Warriors which protect the Qin First Emperor in the after-life. She
continued collaborative research on the Qin terracotta warriors, weapons and other Qin
metal treasures in postdoctoral research funded by Rio Tinto. In 2012, this co-operative project
was adopted by the British Academy as an “Academy Research Project”, entitled Imperial Logistics: The Making of
the Terracotta Army.

Li, X. (2007). 从秦始皇陵区陶窑的分布看陵区陶制品的烧制 (An investigation
into ceramic production for the First Emperor from the distribution of kilns in
his tomb complex). Research on Qin Terracotta Warriors and Qin Culture,
Volume 14. Xi’an: Shaanxi Press.

Li, X. (2000). 秦汉服饰礼仪的发展变化 (Research into the
changing etiquette and social stratification in the Qin and Han dynasty from
the costume styles). Proceedings of the conference on Qin Terracotta
Warriors. Xi’an: Shaanxi Press.

Li, X. (1999). 秦俑坑青灰泥成份及其来源的测试研究 (An investigation
into the origin and composition of the grey soil from the pits of the
Terracotta Warriors). Research on Qin Terracotta Warriors and Qin Culture,
Volume 7. Xi’an:
Shaanxi Press.

Guo, B. and X., Li. (1999).
从“以水银为江河看中国古代的制汞技术 (An investigation
into the technology of mercury extraction in ancient China inspired by the
legend of a mercury river in the tomb of the First Emperor). Research on Qin
Terracotta Warriors and Qin Culture, Volume 7. Xi’an:
Shaanxi Press.

Li, X. (1997). 秦御官俑所配玉环与古代的配绶制度 (A jade pendant worn
by a Qin bronze charioteer and further discussion of the jade ornaments in
ancient China). Research on Qin Terracotta Warriors and Qin Culture,
Volume 5. Xi’an: North West
University Press.

Li, X. (1994). 秦俑服饰配备问题试探 (Research into the
clothes supply of the Qin army from the decorated costumes of the Terracotta
Warriors). Wenbo, Volume 6.